Newcastle United Tour: Team touches base with Kiwi fans on first leg of New Zealand trip

Magpies have breakfast with fans after being greeted by Maori reception in Dunedin ahead of their first game in New Zealand on Tuesday

The Forsyth Barr stadium during the rugby test between the All Blacks and England (Photo: Otago Daily Times)

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Newcastle United arrived to a warm welcome in Dunedin but quickly got integrated with their Kiwi fanbase.

The Magpies were greeted by a traditional Maori Powhiri Ceremonial Welcome ahead of the first game of their tour at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

It was the type of reception reserved for the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William back in April and Newcastle staff and players are being classed as royalty this week.

The people of New Zealand are delighted to be hosting both Newcastle and West Ham United as part of the Football United Tour.

United players started today by having breakfast with supporters at Heartland Hotels Lounge before a training session at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The stadium is known locally ‘the glasshouse’ due to its resemblance to a horticultural hothouse.

England’s rugby union team were beaten here earlier this summer.

And Newcastle join big names like Aerosmith and Elton John on the stadium’s guest list.

The two hour open session allowed fans to get a closer look at United players and would have been a vast difference to those used to watching on TV.

Fans support the Highlanders during a Super rugby game at Forsyth Barr Stadium (Photo: Otago Daily Times)

Ticket sales have not been brilliant in Dunedin with just 8,000 or so sold already.

The game in Wellington should attract around 27,000 fans, a game that is a double header with West Ham taking on Sydney.

Therefore, football chiefs decided to make the games pay-per-view in New Zealand in order to safeguard a financial loss.

Organiser David Dome said: “Historically in New Zealand, people don’t pay to come and watch the Phoenix play, whether it be in Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington or Christchurch, if they can stay home and watch it on Sky TV.

“We wanted to remove that obstacle.

“There have been people who say ‘but if we can watch it on TV we’ll have a lot more exposure’.

“If this thing works and people really want to see more teams come out - which is very much on the cards - then they have to realise that somewhere along the line someone has to pay for it, and sitting at home watching it on a Sky subscription you’ve already paid for, regardless of how many games you watch, is not helping us one bit.”

For many fans they are are seeing their heroes in the flesh for the first time here.

The two events kicked off a series of treats for fans in New Zealand which will take place throughout the week.

The last time United had a long haul tour was three years ago in the United States.

Back then Alan Pardew wanted to show the American audience a typical day in the life of Newcastle United, and he seems to be adopting the same stance down under this year.

Owner Mike Ashley also wants the global Sports Direct on show in both New Zealand and Australia and intends to open stores and launch his website in another part of the world.